Considering that electric and electronic waste (E-waste), beverage carton and unused medication have got low awareness on proper disposal in Malaysia, I took the initiative to organize a collection drive for three days in my university. As TUNZA Eco-generation  ambassador for Malaysia as well as the President of Environmental Science and Management Club of my faculty, I am grateful for the promotional goodies and manpower contribution I have received respectively.

Collection of other type of common recyclables like newspaper, plastic bottle and aluminum can is a common practice in my country and in fact many scavengers and low income group would be doing this due to the economic value of the recyclables. However, E-waste, beverage carton and unused medication are not something widely collected in Malaysia.

My course mates and I strongly think that we ought to take action to provide a solution for these kinds of wastes because the following reasons:    

1.  Unlike the typical 3R bins that collect paper, plastic and aluminum can/glass, bin for e-waste is scarce as the generation of this waste is lesser compared to other. The devoid of e-waste collector is also a challenge which results in public not practicing e-waste recycling and opt for disposal together with general waste as a quick solution.
   
   
2. Not many are aware that beverage carton can be recycled as it consists of paper, plastic and aluminum layers. Tetrapak Malaysia with collaboration of Epic Homes, are taking responsibility to extract the aluminum layer to make roofing tiles for the homeless people?s house.
   
   
3. Patients often do not finish or are given unnecessary medication. Consequently, they either store it in refrigerator for future use or dispose it together with domestic waste. The latter practice is totally wrong as it can expose us Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which can result in reproduction and neurology problem. 
   
   

Thus, this E-waste, Beverage Carton and Unused Medication Collection Drive initiative is meant to educate the public as well as providing them a solution for proper disposal. It is being carried out for three days since the generation of such wastes is not high.

Overall, we managed to collect about 4kg of e-waste, 500g of beverage carton and 3kg unused medicine (both solid and liquid). 

Photo 1: Collected E-waste
Photo 2: Collected unused medication
Photo 3: Final day of collection drive. Me holding some collected waste. 
Photo 4: Giving out TUNZA Eco-generation promotional items.
Photo 5: Recycling the unused medication.
Photo 6: Me explaining to visitor about the roofing tile made out of beverage carton 
Photo 7: Visitor bringing beverage carton to our booth.

Happy reading :)